An elderly couple found murdered in their Wolverhampton home were victims of a “sustained and ferocious attack involving a knife and a hammer”, police have said.

The news emerged during a press conference about the investigation into the killing of Giuseppe and Caterina Massaro.

It come after three men, including two aged 32 and 21 from the city and a 30-year-old from Birmingham, were arrested on suspicion of the pair’s murder.

The terraced house in Woden Road, where they had lived for more than 50 years after moving from Italy, had been ransacked.

NEWS UPDATE:

Detectives investigating the murder of an elderly Italian couple who were found dead in the bedroom of their home have been granted extra time to question two men.

More time for couple murder quiz Enlarge photo

Officers said on Monday that three men were arrested overnight on suspicion of the murders of Guiseppe Massaro, 80, and his 77-year-old wife Caterina.

At a press conference, Superintendent Keith Wilson said magistrates in Birmingham had granted the force extra time to question two of the suspects.

He would not confirm which of the three men – two of those arrested are from Wolverhampton aged 32 and 21, while the third is a 30-year-old from Birmingham – the warrant referred to. He also revealed that officers believed a knife and a hammer recovered at the scene in Woden Road, Wolverhampton, had been used in the “sustained and ferocious attack”.

The couple were discovered dead by their granddaughter Lindsey Booth, 23, in the bedroom of their home on Friday evening.

Mr Wilson said results of a post-mortem examination are yet to be released but Mr Massaro had “defensive wounds” to parts of his body. He told the press conference that officers were called to the house around 8pm and found the bodies of the couple, dressed in day clothes, in their bedroom. There was also evidence of a burglary, he said.

He said: “On arrival, officers found that the house had been ransacked and, in relation to the actual premises, we could see that a lot of property had been moved around the house.”

He also said the couple’s car, a black Peugeot 307 registration PK56 VRW, was stolen. It was later recovered from nearby Wednesfield. Two televisions were also taken in the incident, he said.

The couple’s grandchildren, Miss Booth, Richard Booth, and Rosa Carella, were also at the press conference.

Miss Booth said: “Our family and friends, both here in England and Italy, can’t even begin to describe the devastation and trauma that has hit us, knowing they were hurt by the hands of somebody else. We can’t even begin to grasp the evil that took place in their house and how frightened they would have been.”

NEWS UPDATE:

Three men have been arrested over the murders of an elderly couple whose bodies were discovered in their Wolverhampton home on Good Friday.

Three Men Arrested Over Murdered Couple Play video

Two men, aged 32 and 21, from the city and a 30-year-old from Birmingham are being questioned on suspicion of the murders of Giuseppe and Caterina Massaro.

The couple’s granddaughter discovered their bodies fully clothed in bed when she went to check on them last week.

She said there was no sign of any blood on them.

The terraced house in Woden Road, where they had lived for more than 50 years after moving from Italy, had been ransacked.

Police reported their television and black Peugeot 307 had been stolen – the vehicle was later found half-a-mile away in Wednesfield.

Detectives want to speak to anyone who may have been offered the TV or car on Friday.

The family of Giuseppe, 80, and Caterina, who was 77, said their “beloved grandparents” would be “sadly missed”.

In a statement they said: “We cannot even begin to grasp the evil that took place in their home and how frightened they would have been.

“An entire generation was taken away from us that day and we cannot comprehend how something could go this far.

“We only hope this devastation can save the lives of many other people by being aware that tragedy can strike at any time so all we can do is be more vigilant towards our neighbours and the entire community.”

Family members gave Sky News photographs of the couple taken at a surprise birthday party thrown to celebrate Giuseppe’s 80th birthday in February.

Post mortem examinations were due to resume to find out what caused their deaths.